43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 150 No. 035 Tuesday, November 24, 2020 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 2285 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, November 24, 2020 The House met at 10 a.m. the government has continually rejected these very reasonable amendments. Amendments that the petition specifically references are for the Prayer 10-day reflection period. The petitioners want that left in place. They recognize that already the 10-day reflection period can be waived with the consent of the doctors involved. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS The petitioners highlight their concerns with respect to Bill C-7 ● (1005) and the need for amendments to protect vulnerable people, which is [Translation] what the committee has been hearing from experts and disability advocates. CANADA LABOUR CODE HUMAN RIGHTS Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-254, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, Code, the Official Languages Act and the Canada Business Corpo‐ CPC): Mr. Speaker, the second petition deals with the human rights rations Act. situation of Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in China. It particu‐ larly calls for the government to go from words to actions. She said: Mr. Speaker, today, I have the honour to introduce a bill to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Official Languages Act Recognizing that words and statements are not enough, the peti‐ and the Canada Business Corporations Act so that federally regulat‐ tioners call on the government to use the Justice for Victims of Cor‐ ed businesses in Quebec respect the Charter of the French Lan‐ rupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) and sanction guage and implement measures to promote the use of French as the those who are responsible for heinous crimes being committed main language at work. against the Uighur people. This is a matter of respect for one of Canada's founding peoples HUMAN ORGAN TRAFFICKING and a way to promote one of the things that makes Quebec unique. Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, No one can deny that what makes Paris unique is the fact that peo‐ CPC): Mr. Speaker, the third petition is in support of Bill S-204, ple are welcomed there and able to work there in French. It only currently before the Senate. This petition would make it a criminal makes sense that such should also be the case in Quebec, the last offence for a person to go abroad and receive an organ that has great bastion of the French language in North America. We should been harvested or trafficked without the consent of the person in‐ be proud of this language and do everything possible to positively volved. promote it every day. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) I commend these three petitions to the consideration of the House. * * * [English] MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING PETITIONS Mr. Glen Motz (Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise on behalf of Canadians today MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING who are petitioning the government in regard to Bill C-7, which is Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, currently before the justice committee. CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be presenting three petitions in the House today. The petitioners are concerned about the safeguards that would be removed from that legislation, including the mandatory 10-day re‐ The first petition deals with the government's bill, Bill C-7, flection period and the number of witnesses required for it to be which is currently before the justice committee. The petitioners are carried out. The removal of the second requirement of independent calling for amendments to the legislation that would leave in place witnesses would reduce the oversight of the procedure, leaving vul‐ reasonable safeguards. Those amendments have been proposed, but nerable persons at risk. 2286 COMMONS DEBATES November 24, 2020 Routine Proceedings Therefore, the petitioners are asking the House of Commons to Mr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): Mr. immediately discontinue the removal of safeguards for people re‐ Speaker, I have two petitions to table today. questing euthanasia and put additional measures in the bill, which is being proposed and amended at the justice committee. The first petition focuses on Bill C-7. The petitioners are urging ● (1010) the House of Commons to maintain the safeguards to protect people who request euthanasia. They call on the House of Commons and HANDGUNS the Government of Canada to maintain the 10-day reflection period Mr. David Yurdiga (Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, CPC): Mr. as well as the second independent witness. Speaker, I would like to present two petitions this morning. HUMANS RIGHTS The first petition calls upon the House of Commons to stop plans to implement a ban on handguns in Canada and instead focus on in‐ Mr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): Mr. creasing punishment for violent gun criminals and urban gangs. Speaker, the second petition focuses on the persecution of Uighurs VETERANS AFFAIRS by the Communist Party in China. Mr. David Yurdiga (Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls upon the House of Commons to The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to recognize amend the new veterans charter, the Canadian Forces Members and that Uighurs in China have been and are subject to genocide. They Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act and implement call on the Government of Canada to use the Magnitsky act to sanc‐ changes that would ensure injured veterans receive benefits equiva‐ tion those who are responsible for these crimes. lent to or greater than those granted prior to 2006. The Speaker: I would remind hon. members presenting petitions MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING in person today to bring their petitions to the table. Mrs. Karen Vecchio (Elgin—Middlesex—London, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here on behalf of many Canadians Presenting petitions, the hon. member for Lethbridge. who are very concerned with Bill C-7 and the safeguards that would be removed in the legislation. It is very important for the MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING government to understand that the concerns, such as a 10-day wait‐ ing period as well as the number of witnesses who need to be there Ms. Rachael Harder (Lethbridge, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I stand to designate this as medical assistance in dying, are really important here today on behalf of Canadians who are very concerned about for all Canadians. The petitioners say that we should ensure we do legislation that is currently before the justice committee, Bill C-7, our best to save those who are vulnerable and disabled and ensure which has to do with medical assistance in dying. that they understand their lives matter too. HUMAN RIGHTS The legislation would unnecessarily expand the definition. It would take away the need for a 10-day reflection period and would Mr. Damien Kurek (Battle River—Crowfoot, CPC): Mr. also make it so that only one witness would need to be present Speaker, I have two petitions to present to the House today. when an individual requests euthanasia. This is of concern to a The first petitions is on the systematic persecution of Uighur growing population in Canada, particularly those who live with a Muslims in China. These Canadians call upon the Government of disability, because it puts them at risk and makes them vulnerable. Canada to formally recognize that Uighurs in China have been and are being subject to genocide and use the Justice for Victims of In this place, we have a responsibility to stand on behalf of the Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) and sanction vulnerable. It is the government's primary responsibility to look af‐ those who are responsible for the heinous crimes being committed ter the safety and security of its citizens. Therefore, I call upon the against the Uighur people. government, along with those signed this petition, to do that. SEX SELECTION * * * Mr. Damien Kurek (Battle River—Crowfoot, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the second petition that I table today on behalf of more ● (1015) Canadians is on sex-selective abortion. The petitioners, the close 300 who have signed this petition, call upon Canada to pass the QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER Criminal Code prohibition against sex-selective abortion. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Presi‐ MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING dent of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Lead‐ Mrs. Cathy McLeod (Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, er of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition in which a number Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand. of people throughout the country are profoundly concerned about some of the safeguards that are being removed in the current itera‐ The Speaker: Is that agreed? tion of the legislation on medical assistance in dying, especially the disability community. Some hon. members: Agreed. November 24, 2020 COMMONS DEBATES 2287 Government Orders GOVERNMENT ORDERS the law and regulations that support these principles so that Canadi‐ ans can rest assured that their privacy will be protected. [English] DIGITAL CHARTER IMPLEMENTATION ACT, 2020 As members will see, the principles of the digital charter are Hon. Navdeep Bains (Minister of Innovation, Science and In‐ firmly embedded in the legislation before us today. On top of this dustry, Lib.) moved that Bill C-11, An Act to enact the Consumer foundation sits three pillars: consumer control, responsible innova‐ Privacy Protection Act and the Personal Information and Data Pro‐ tion and a strong enforcement and oversight mechanism.